Animal lovers and outdoor activities fans are aware that even something as innocent as a walk in a park can sometimes bring unwanted pests to people’s homes and cause illness to pets and humans.
Ticks are some of the most troublesome pests out there, not just because they feed on animal and human blood, but because they also transmit Lyme disease, which if not detected in time, can cause serious health problems.
Lyme disease is defined as a multisystem inflammatory disease that first affects the skin and later spreads to the joints, nervous system and, to a lesser extent, other organ systems. The disease should be diagnosed and treated early with antibiotics. When treated in its later stages, Lyme disease can also be treated effectively, but some patients can experience symptoms that linger for months or even years following treatment. However, there are rare cases when Lyme disease causes permanent damage in patients.
How to keep ticks and other pests at bay?
The American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF) recommends that people follow these simple safety steps to avoid getting tics on their clothing, skin or hair.
- Wear enclosed shoes and light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily
- Scan clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors
Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails - Use insect repellant containing DEET (Diethyl-meta-toluamide) on skin or clothes if you intend to go off-trail or into overgrown areas
- Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls (havens for ticks and their hosts)
- Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening
- Do a final, full-body tick-check at the end of the day (also check children and pets)
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Massachusetts, with about 4,000 reported cases in 2009.
To learn more about how to remove a tick from your skin, please click here.
